Delays in criminal records checks are ‘causing challenges’ for Salford people offering to host Ukrainians fleeing Vladimir Putin’s war. There are currently 300 applications from people in the city offering accommodation and DBS checks are awaited for 156 households under the city council’s Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
Salford’s assistant director for people and communities Janice Loundes told the city’s health and social care scrutiny panel that the hold-ups were an issue but added: “We have a dedicated team in the council [dealing with the problem]. [Sourcing] identification and supporting documentation can be an issue.”
The panel was told that the main reasons for applications to be hosts ‘not progressing’ were awaiting ID and safeguarding. Some 232 safeguarding checks have been completed and approved on 127 households. Nine were not approved.
Ms Loundes said other challenges facing the council included the speed of arrivals from Ukraine, the unknown numbers of people coming through other routes, family/relationship breakdown, pressure on housing services, staff capacity to run the scheme and potential hosts withdrawing from the scheme. Meanwhile, some 252 people have signed up with health services from all schemes with highest percentage in the 25 to 65-year age range.
Many Ukrainians have found work and gone on to find accommodation independently since their arrival, said Ms Loundes. Her colleague, Leisa Leytham, revealed that Ukrainians had been rescued from ‘complete destitution’ thanks to Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham A Bed Every Night (ABEN) scheme.
“Some of these people were picked up as rough sleepers,” she said. The ABEN scheme has 20 bed spaces, but is continually filled up whenever vacancies occur, she said.
Salford’s Homes for Ukraine process starts with an application to become a host. Assessments are carried out housing, a DBS check and safeguarding.
The city council was allocated £10,500 for each approved arrival initially, but this dropped to £5,900 from January 1. Hosts are provided with a monthly ‘thank you’ of £350, to increase to £500 after 12 months of hosting and for a further 12 months.
Salford’s welfare team also carries out visits. There are currently 137 Ukrainian guests in Salford, of which 37 are children. Overall, 223 guests have arrived.
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